Pneumatic grain-loader.



N0. 674,098. Patented May l4, I90l.

J. E. SHEPARD.

PNEUMATIC GRAIN LOADEB.

(Application filed Nov. '1, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Nay l4, l90l.

J. E. SHEPARD. PNEUMATIC GRAIN LOADER.

(Application filed Nov. 7. 19.00.)

2 Shuts-Sheet (No Model.)

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llEiTTEn STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES E. SHEPARD, KENTLAND, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC GRAlN-LOADER.

kBIPEUIIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,098, dated May14, 1901. Application filed November 7,1900. Serial No 35,750. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it 'nmy concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. SHEPARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kentland, in the county of Newton and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Pneumatic Grain-Loader, of which the.following is a specification.

My invention is an improved pneumatic grain-loader for loading cars andthe like; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combinationof devices hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple pneumaticgrain-loader, which is of maximum efficiency, is light, compact, andrequires but little power to operate it, and may be constructed atcomparatively slight cost.

In'the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of apneumatic grainloader constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalcentral sectional View of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation ofthe revoluble tubular shaft and the screw-fan thereon.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a suitable supporting-frame1, .which may be horizontally disposed or supported at any desiredinclination. At one end of the said frame, which I will call the innerend thereof, is a cross-bar 2. At the outer end of the said frame is abolster or block 3, and between said bolster or block and said crossbaris a bolster or block at. A longitudinallydisposed revoluble cylindricaltubular shaft 5 is journaled in hearings on the blocks 3 4. The outerend of said tubular shaft 5 projects beyond the outer side of the block3, and to the latter is secured the inner end of a conical-shapeddischarge-hood 6. A screwfan 7 is secured on the projecting outer end ofthe tubular shaft 5, the said screw-fan being located and revoluble inthe inner end of said conical hood 6. Each of the flights or wings 8 ofsaid screw-fan 7 is spirally disposed and is broader at its base than atits outer end, and in practice each of the said flights should describehalf a circle on the tubular shaft. The pitch of the said flights may,however, be varied, as may be required. Each of the said flights orWings is concaved on its face, as at 9. The hood 6 is provided on itsupper side with an intake 10, which is located above the inner portionof the screwfan. The tubular shaft 5 is provided with a suitablepower-pulley 11, whereby it may be rotated, and when in operation thesaid tubularshaft, which carries and rotates the screwfan, is revolvedat a suitable rate of speed. In a machine of moderate capacity and sizeI find it advantageous to drive the tubular shaft and screw-fan at therate of about five hundred revolutions per minute.

A fan-casing 12 is secured on the cross-bar 2 at the inner end of frame1, and the discharge-trunk 13 of said fan-casing com municates with theinner end of the tubular shaft 5. The blower-fan 14, which is located inthe fan-casing 12, has its shaft 15 provided with a suitable powerwhey16, whereby it may be rotated, and in the form of my invention hereshown the said blower-fan has a pulley 17 on its shaft, which pulley 17is connected to the pulley 11 on the tubular shaft 5 by endlesspower-cables '18, which pass over direction-pulleys 19, that aresupported by a lever 20, the lower end of which is pivotally connectedto an arm 21, that projects from the frame 1. By means of this lever thepower-cables may be tightened or slackened as may be required toproperly transmit power from the blower-shaft to the tubular shaft 5.Said lever 20 is supported at any required adjustment by a dog 22, whichengages a notched segment 23. -It will be understood, however, thatpower will be applied to the blower and to the tubular shaft. by anysuitable means, and I do not limit myself in this particular. Inpractice the blower is rotated at a higher rate of speed than thescrew-fan, so that the current of air blown through the tubular shaft bythe blower is much stronger than would be an exhaust-current through thesaid tubular shaft set up by the screw-fan.

In a machine of moderate size andcapacity, with the blower and screw-fanproportioned about as herein shown, the blower should be driven at therate of about twelve hundred revolutions to the minute.

In the operation of my invention the grain is fed to the hood throughthe intake 10. The

action of the screw-fan is such as to set up a cyclonic current of airin the base of the hood and to compress the same toward the contracteddischarge end of the hood, and the whirling motion of this cycloniccompressedair current serves as a cushion which supports and whirls thegrain in the base of the hood and in coaction with the concaved faces ofthe flights or wings of the screw-fan prevents the grain from settlingin the lower side of the hood, and, moreover, the said current of air inescaping from the discharge end of the hood carries the grain with it,being assisted by the mechanical action of the flights or wings of thescrew-fan. The efficiency of the screw-fan in thus pneumatically andmechanically discharging the grain from the hood is greatly increased bythe blast from the blower, which blast operates centrally with relationto the screw-fan, and the velocity of the said blast-current beinggreater than that of the cyclonic currents set up by the screw-fan thevelocity of the grain which is initially moved by the screw-fan isincreased by the said blast-current, and hence the grain is dischargedat a high velocity from the contracted discharge end or nozzle of thehood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a pneumaticgrain-loader, the combination of a discharge-hood to Which the grain isfed, a revoluble screw-fan in the said discharge-hood, said screw-fanhaving a tubular axle-shaft and means to set up a blast-current throughsaid tubular axle-shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic grain-loader, the combination of a discharge-hoodhaving a grain-intake, a revoluble tubular shaft, a screw-fan on saidshaft, the latter being arranged in the said dischargehood, and a blowerto discharge a blast of air through the said tubular shaft,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES E. SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

WM. B. MOORE, EDGAR L. PRESHER.

